HURON — The Huron High School boys basketball all-time scoring record is staying in the Ellwein family.
Blake Ellwein became the Tigers’ all-time leading boys basketball scorer on Feb. 7, surpassing a record previously held by his father, Jay. Blake Ellwein currently has 1,394 points, while Jay finished with 1,383 points for the Tigers. 

“It was very special just because growing up he’s always pushed me,” Blake said. “He’s pushed me to work very hard, which I am really glad that he did and it’s just special that he always wanted me to break the record.”

Jay Ellwein, a former all-stater for the Tigers, set the record in 1994 and said it was time for someone to break it — and that someone turned out to be his son. 

“He talked about it this summer,” Jay said. “He kind of nudged me or needled me that he was going to break it. I kind of figured he was going to break it his sophomore year when he started playing. I just thought it was a matter of time before he got it.”

Blake Ellwein, a 6-foot-10 all-state forward, broke the scoring record against Sturgis. The record fell in the second quarter on a 3-pointer from Ellwein, with the assist coming from his younger brother, Myles, and Jay watching intently from the bench as an assistant coach.
“It was really surreal, honestly,” said Blake, who will play college basketball at South Dakota State University. “With my dad on the bench. My brother was able to make the pass. It was really special because family is really big to me and having everybody around me just made it 10 times better.”

Blake is currently No. 11 on the all-time Class AA boys basketball scoring list, while Jay is just behind in 12th place. They are the only father-son duo to rank among the top-12 scorers in Class AA history.

“It means a lot,” Blake said. “I always wanted to be the player that my dad was and that was a big motivation. I just wanted to make him proud and make my family proud. It’s just cool to share that with my dad.” 

In his first season as an assistant coach, Jay has joined Tim Buddenhagen’s staff with the 11-4 Tigers, calling the opportunity to be on the bench a special experience.
“I thank Tim Buddenhagen for letting me do it,” Jay said. “It’s been very special to sit on the bench and go through a season where we are good and then my son breaks the record.” 

The Tigers are currently ranked No. 5 in Class AA, and will host Pierre on Feb. 10 at the Huron Arena.